Aussie Curves - New Years

Just putting it out there - New Years just isn't the same once you have young kids!The last few years Hubby and I have mostly stayed at home. Our New Year tradition seems to be to hang at home in our PJ's eating antipasto.

This year, we actually did have plans. We went to our Brother In Law/Sister In Law's place, which is one block away! The best bit about this arrangement was that we could walk over. My Husband drove over in advance and dropped of the food we were bringing, and Esky of drinks, and 4 litres of Berry & Lemon Sangria that I had made. Then we loaded up the kids into the pram and walked on over.

The day before I had been shopping and found this beautiful dress as City Chic. It was perfect for New Years because it was casual but still felt a little special, was super comfortable and was colourful.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the small fit me, given that i'm usually a medium in City Chic. However, the full skirt and ruched elastic back meant the samll fitted nicely.

Dress - City Chic
Denim Jacket - Crossroads
Necklace - Given to me by my Sister
Sandals - Kmart

I also painted my nails just for New Year. I am trying to look after my nails, so I borrowed my Sisters gel nail kit and did a little nail art. I loved the fun pop of the hot pink, and a bit of sparkle from the glitter polish was also perfect.

We had a great, low key New Year, talking to family and friends,playing scattergories and just generally relaxing.

I can't wait to see what 2014 brings. It is looking like it will be an exciting, and busy, year. Several friends are having babies around April/May so there will be a flurry of baby showers and births. The babies that were born last year will be turning One, and I will be a Stay At Home Mum this year while on Maternity leave.

I hope you have a wonderful New Year, I look forward to sharing my adventures with you this year!

P.S If you like the sound of the Berry Lemon Sangria I will share the recipe later in the week so be sure to check back!

Best & Less - Plus Size fashion

There has been much excitement in the Australian Plus Size community regarding an announcement by a local retailer that they will be offering more items that go up to a size 26. Even better, they will not hike up the price simply because it is in a 'plus' size.

Best & Less have had a plus size range for a while, Lily & Lou. It is a bit hit and miss, but it is still encouraging to see a retailer that is offering affordable items that are (mostly) in fashion.

This latest range looked really encouraging, so I decided to go check it out'

I decided to try on  the sheer/pleather tunic top that is shown above, as well as a chambray shirt and a floral tunic dresss.

First up, the black tunic top. I was not expecting to like this, as it is a cut that I usually find doesn't flatter me. However, I ws pleasantly surprised. I did go up a size to the 22, in order to allow for my expanding baby bump. The top slightly gathered on my hips, but otherwise looked quite nice. The quality is good considering the $20 price tag. I loved how they looked with my DP wet look leggings. I would say try both your normal size, and a size up, to see how it looks on you.

 Next I tried the floral tunic. The print is really beautiful, and it is made from a stretch knit, with a pleather sash. Normally the sash would go around your waist, but obviously it worked better for me above the belly at the moment. The only downside would be that I would need to remove the belt loops if I wanted to wear the sash where I have. Again, I went up a size, but mainly because I felt as I get bigger it will be less tight across my bottom. In the picture I am wearing the 20, but I bought a 22.

I was very close to buying this chambray short. It is on trend, and well cut. The 22 was a little tight in the arms, while the 24 was to big in the bust and back. I hesitated because of the arms, but I suspect they will loosen up with wear. I posted this picture on the AC facebook page and have had so many compliments I suspect I will go back and buy it next pay. Again, it was a steal at $20 and is very on trend.

My one criticism would be a lack of colour. They still offer a greater range of coloured items in the 8 - 16 range. This is frustrating, because there are items that I want, and they only offer it in black in my size, yet offer the same item in a variety of colours in the smaller sized range. I really wish retailers would offer items in a better variety of colours, yet I suspect that perhaps not all of the plus size community is embracing colour as much as the Aussie Curves ladies.

Head out to Best & Less and have a look. Let's support the retailers that are catering more to the plus size community.

Plus Size Maternity Wardrobe Series - #3 Where to shop

The difficult part in plus size maternity wear is finding what shops make maternity wear in plus sizes.For the basics you really can't go past your usual department stores. The prices are cheap, and they stock up to a size 20, sometimes 22.

Big W - They have some good skinny leg jeans, Plain straight stretch dresses and great cheap plain ruched tops. They go up to a size 20, but they are generous sizes. Their plus size Avella range is also worth a look, as some of their items will work well through pregnancy.

Kmart - They have some good ruched tops and maternity jeans. Their range seems smaller, and I find Kmart sizing to be very narrow. If you are a 14 - 18 you will most likely find some basic pieces here.

Target - They go up to a size 20 in the maternity range. They have fashionable maternity pants in lots of varieties, some lovely maternity tunics/dresses and have a good variety in maternity tops. Look at their online store, as they stock some extra items on there that they don't offer instore!
Again, their Moda range is also worth a look, to see if some of their plus size items will also work through a pregnancy.

Top Tip : Don't just look at maternity sections. You can often find clothing that will work well in normal stores. I found many great maternity friendly pieces in Millers and Big W in their normal range. Just look for longer length (to allow for your belly) and stretch fabric. Many maxi dresses are flowy from the bust down and these are great for maternity wear.


However, some of us do not fit in the maternity range offered by retailers. If this is the case, there is hope for you yet! Plus Maternity - is an online store that specialises in offering maternity wear for sizes 18 - 28. They are a fabulous Australian owned company that actually design and make their plus size range with the plus size woman in mind. There are lovely basic pieces that can easily help you build a maternity wardrobe that will see you through the pregnancy.

Plus Maternity

There are other online stores that are worth a look at, that also stock plus size ranges.

Old Navy - they stock up to a XXL in some of their range, fitting a 20 - 22. They are worth a look because the clothing is usually on trend, and because their seasons are opposite to ours you can often find some great bargains on sale.


Angel Maternity - They stock some larger sizes, with a plus size category, but seems to go up to about a 20 -22. There is a nice variety of clothing in a range of prices. Great if you need something nice for a special event

Plus Size Maternity Wardrobe series - #2 The basics

Now you have checked your own wardrobe and sorted out any clothing you think you can keep wearing, it might be time to buy a few maternity pieces.

There are a few staple items that I think you should have

T shirt / Materinty Floral Maxi Dress White Tropical / Maternity / Bold Stripe Maternity Tube Skirt / Shelf Bra Nursing Singlet / Maternity / Maternity / Double Layer Bump Band

- Maternity Jeans - Wide leg and skinny leg
- Long stretchy singlet tops in black and white
- Belly band in Black and white
- Plain tops with ruched sides ( Short sleeve if during summer, long for winter)
- Stretchy straight skirt
- Black Tunic dress
- Maxi Dress

If you have these basics then you can pretty much put together a number of lovely outfits by mixing and matching pieces from you existing wardrobe.

For Example

Maternity Jeans
Plain Top
Chunky colourful Necklace
Ballet Flats
A Cardigan

Black Tunic Dress
Collared Shirt worn under the dress (You don't have to do it up from the bust down)
Stockings
Low Heel
A necklace

Maxi Dress
Low heels
Chunky necklace

Skinny leg jeans
Long singlet top
Tunic top
Boots
Long Cardigan
Skinny Scarf

Straight Skirt
Plain Ruched top
Sandals
Long necklace or big earrings


Much of the items shown are the types of things you would already have in your wardrobe. With a few basic maternity pieces, and some items you already own, you are well on your way to having a fashionable maternity wardrobe.


Are there any particular must have maternity basic item you think is needed? Share your tips!

Plus Size Maternity Fashion Series - #1 - Work your wardrobe

I am currently expecting my second child, due mid November. Maternity fashion can be challenging, with your body expanding and your old wardrobe rarely working well with your changing body shape.

Being Plus Size and Pregnant  Even more difficult. It can be hard for a plus size lady to find nice maternity clothing that fits. Many Maternity brands only go to a 16 - 18, so if you are a size 18 + before falling pregnant it can be difficult to find maternity clothing that fits.

However it isn't impossible. Over the coming weeks I am going to share with you my own maternity wardrobe and share some tips and tricks that I am learning along the way :D

he very first thing you should do is have a good look at your wardrobe and make a list of what clothing you have that you think will be able to be worn through the pregnancy, or at least until the third trimester.

Things to look for are:

Dresses
- Maxi dresses in a stretchy fabric
- Empire line dresses that are stretchy or have a full skirt

Bottoms
- Maxi skirts that have stretch
- Pencil skirts that have stretch
- Pants that have a fold down band or elastic waist
- Jeans that are elastic, stretch or are able to have a belly belt attached
- Leggings - Especially full styles that may go up to your belly or higher.

Tops
- Look for tops that are flowing from under the bust
- Tops that are stretchy and long
- Tops that may have ruching on the side or under the bust
- Any tunic tops

Can we see a pattern here? Check if it has stretch!! If it is stretchy, you will get a bit of extra wear out of it. If you have some (or all?) of these items then you are well on your way to building a maternity wardrobe. You can extend the wear of some items by doing some of the following

Turn shorter dresses into a tunic/top. Sometimes your dresses appear to be shorter on you because more fabric is being taken up by your expanding belly. Sometimes you can then wear that dress as a tunic instead. Try seeing what it looks like with some leggings or skinny leg jeans.

Use a belly band. You can undo the buttons/zip on a pant or skirt, but then add a stretchy belly band on over the top. I will keep the item from falling off, while giving you room for your expanding belly.

Undo the first few buttons of a button down top and wear a singlet underneath, or open the top up completely and wear it like a jacket.

Shopping your wardrobe will definitely help you keep costs down when you are trying to put together a maternity wardrobe. After all, you only really wear it for about 6 months (given that the first 3 you can usually squeeze into your normal clothing) so you don,t want to spend a fortune on it.  However, you DO want to feel and look good. It is an exciting time, but your body goes through so many changes, feeling like you LOOK good definitely helps.

Do you have any cost saving tips for maternity fashion?

Aussie Curves - Timesaver

This week's theme on Aussie Curves is all about time saving tips. We all lead such busy lives that we can fall into rushing with our appearance and feeling like we don't have time to put together an outfit. I know I sometimes feel this way. In fact, lately I have felt so time poor that I stopped blogging altogether. I just kept forgetting to put the posts that I created in my head onto 'paper'. I also felt like I had lost my inspiration. I wasn't 'feeling' my clothing and didn't feel like I had anything to contribute to the challenges.

With that in mind, this weeks theme of 'timesaver' is really fitting. I am trying to find my groove again and having a few time saving tips will definately help. So here are my top tips for how to look and feel good, even when time poor

1) Know your 'go to' outfits

It is really handy to have an outfit that you know you can throw on and look good, no mater what. These usually involve a few basic pieces, that you can then throw on some accessories and run out the door.

For me I have one for Summer and one for Winter.

Summer

Maxi dress
Flats or sandals
A crop denim jacket/cardigan

This outfit is so simple. A maxi dress is so easy to throw on. It covers your legs, so it's great if you are in between shaves/waxing ;). They are also so simple to accessorise.  Whack on a necklace (You can't go wrong with a simple silver one) and maybe a bangle or some earrings and off you go!

Winter

Leggings
Tunic top or knee length dress
Long cardigan
Boots

This outfit is great for winter. The same accessory rules apply as summer, a simple necklace and earrings, or if it is really cold you can pop on a scarf for added warmth and colour. or a belt for some definition.

2) Have a simple make up routine

There are some days you are either too rushed or can't be bothered to put on a full face of makeup. On these days having a simple look that you can pop on to freshen up and go is great.

I think for those days it is easiest to wear a bit of lip colour but keep your eyes simple. I just pop on a bit of colored lip gloss,usually a red or a pink,  some mascara, a bit of blush and off I go.

If my skin is looking really healthy I might be able to forego any foundation and concealer.
However, I tend to have darker circles under my eyes. It's hereditary, so I find I often do need a bit of concealer otherwise I just look tired! If I am lazy though I pop on my under eye concealer and some BB cream.

3) Dry Shampoo!

I have hair that tends to get oily roots after the second day, but the rest of my hair is fine. I recently tried a sample of a dry hair shampoo spray, and I haven;t looked back. It works so well, even on my darker hair. You just spray onto the roots, then run your fingers through your hair. It takes away the oily roots, making your hair look clean. I do find it is better to then put my hair up, rather than leave it out and I will usually put it into a high ponytail, or a low bun.

4) Plan your clothing the night before

I often do this for work, or if I know i have a special event to attend the next day. I found since having my daughter that time can run out very quickly when you are trying to pack up a child, get a bag ready and dress them on top of getting yourself ready. The last thing you need is to then run around trying to find what you want to wear for the day.

I will often choose an outfit the night before and lay it all out on a chair we have in our room, or hang it off the linen press door handle. I will ensure that I have everything I need, right down to the underwear and jewellery. It makes me feel put together, and means I don't have to rush around the house trying to find that elusive shoe!

What is your ultimate time saving tip for getting ready on those days when time seems to be running out?

Be sure to check out the great tips from the other Aussie Curves Bloggers

Aussie Curves - Military

Military? What the heck?

That was my first thought when I saw military on the list. I was stumped. I tried to think of what I could wear. Cargo pants and I are not friends. They do nothing for my already wide thighs.

Military jacket? Years ago I owned the most DIVINE military style coat. It was a full length, latte colour, with a high neck and double breasted brass buttons. Sadly, I put on weight and can no longer squeeze my arms into it. My mother gleefully claimed it, and I must confess it looks better on her than it ever did on me. She loves it because during winter she can pop it on over anything she is wearing and pop into the shops and look chic and stylish.

I do however love the colour 'army green'. As a matter of fact, I refer to my eye colour as being 'army green'. It is the closest colour that matches the shade of green in my eyes.

Top - Avella by Big W

Skirt - Target

Boots - Williams

Hat - Sportsgirl

Necklace & Bracelet - Lovisa

After some thought I came up with this look. I think that is what is so exciting about Aussie curves challenges. They make you rethink fashion, and put together different looks. I always try to shop my wardrobe, and have never gone out and purchased anything other than accessories to fit in with a theme. It may help that I have a huge wardrobe, which no matter how often I downsize still seems to be bursting at the seams.

For this week's look I used my top as the starting point. I was going to pair it with skinny leg jeans, however it was a sunny day and I was going to wear the outfit while grocery shopping. I swapped the jeans for a denim skirt, popped on some boots, a military style cap and some some accessories. I actually really liked how the whole look came together and think it has a definite military feel to it.

Do you have a piece of clothing that you adored, but can no loner wear? What was it and why did you love it?

Be sure to check out what the other AC ladies are wearing this week!

Aussie Curves - Swimwear

It is a testament to how much my confidence has grown that I am taking part in this week's challenge. When I first saw the AC list I thought I would sit out on the swimwear week for sure. 

Then... My Mum bought me two beautiful swimmers in Hawaii, from WALMART of all places. I really really loved both swimmers, and was shocked at the ultra cheap price tags that were attached. 

As I have gotten older I have started to feel more confident in my own skin. I am starting to realise that ultimately the only person who should care about how I look is me. I also started to realise that wearing baggy cover ups over my swimmers actually made me more conspicuous when I was at the beach or pools. 

I do struggle to find good swimmers though. I am small busted, so I prefer swimmers to have some padding on the top. I want them to sit on or below my hips (If it's a tankini) and i want bottoms that cover my ample bottom.

Tankini & Bottoms - Walmart

Boy Leg bottoms - Mix Apparel

Hat - A hand me down from Mum

These swimmers tick all the boxes for me. I really love the bright, colourful pattern. They are just long enough to cover my belly, but are also not clingy.

Best of all are the bottoms, a swim skirt. I really love swim skirts as i find they are much more flattering than board shorts, but provide more cover than a pair of bottoms. However, the pants that are attached were not quite as full as I like, with the edges of my bottom cheeks peeking out. 

To solve this I bought a pair of boy leg bottoms that I wear under the skirt, but over the bottoms. 

These are actually really great because they have ruched sides that allow you to lengthen or shorten them according to your tastes. 

I wore these swimmers all summer. They were perfect. I felt comfortable, and best of all, no saggy, baggy cover up!

 

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Aussie Curves - Second Hand

I really enjoy going for a dig through secondhand stores. Over the years I have found a few gems. I remember a time when I was younger my Mum was unwell and stopped working. After a bit she retrained to be able to work in an office. When it came time for her to go to work she needed office work wear, which she did not have a lot of. I remember she hunted down her clothing in op shops. She found some wonderful clothing, much of it from expensive brands that she would not have afforded otherwise. People always commented on how lovely her clothing was.

I shared some of the treasures I found op shopping  while back in this post, where I also shared some of my tips for how I hunt down items.

Another way I score second hand clothing is through other people. The best part about these is that they are free! Sometimes the clothing is my style and fits well. Sometimes it is not. Anything I won't use I pass along to others or send off to my local charity shop.

In the two outfits below one is a 'handed down' item, and the other is brought from a local charity shop. Both are really gorgeous!!!

My lace dress was given to me by my Mother In Law. I actually have only worn it once as it never seemed quite right. However for this picture I experimented with it a bit and added a thin rose gold belt. It was just what it needed. The belt seemed to give the dress a little bit extra definition.

I really love this dress, and am delighted because I know lace dresses like this are making a bog comeback, with similar dresses being made by Igigi and Kiyonna. I love that the dress has sleeves as it means I can wear it without needed to add a bolero or cropped cardigan. The sleeves actually have a longer bit of lace on the inside arms so that they dip down a bit like 'Morticia Adams'/The excess lace is also split into two so can be tied into a knot. I don;t like the look of it so I tied them up and tucked them in so they couldn't be seen. I plan on cutting them off before I wear it again.

I really love that this dress has a wide V neck which balances out my torso with my wider hips. The skirt also has wonderful pleats that allow the skirt to be a little fuller.

Dress - Vintage

Belt- Equip

Shoes - Spendless Shoes

Earrings - Diva

Ring - Lovisa

Nerida's dress was found at a charity shop. She wasn't going to try it on at first, but was encouraged to do so. Afterall, one of the rules of successful op shopping is TRY IT ON.

The dress is a fitted faux wrap dress from Basque. It looks WONDERFUL on and suits Nerida's shape perfectly. The length of the dress shows off her shapely legs without being too short. The patten is also great with the busy, large print being really slimming.

Like mine, it has longer sleeves which means it can be worn without a cardi or bolero. Nerida added a belt to her look as well, to draw attention to the narrow point in her shape. We are thinking that a thinner belt would possibly look even better and will try that next time.

To add a pop of colour she put on a wooden beaded necklace, which also happened to be purchased from a charity shop. This is the kind of dress that could be worn out for a special occasion, but that could also be worn to work. 

Dress - Basque (Secondhand)

Belt - From another dress

Shoes- Kmart

Necklace - St Vincent de Paul

Bracelet - Tiffany & Co.

You really can find beautiful, budget friendly clothing anywhere, if you look around. You do not have to have a lot of money to wear fashionable clothing. 

Tell us, what is your favourite second hand item you own?

Check out the other great pre-loved fashions from our fellow curvettes

Aussie Curves Round Up!

I thought it would be time to do a bit of a round up of the looks I have loved most from each week on Aussie Curves.

Warning: This may be a picture heavy monster post, so maybe load the page, then make yourself a cuppa. Be ready to indulge in some of the most fabulous outfits that Australian Plus Size fashion has to offer!

Honestly, being a part of Aussie Curves has been a privilege and delight. To be part of a community of women in Australia who are embracing plus size fashion, inspiring each other, and sharing our wonderful fashion finds has been life-changing. A prolific Australian blogger Danimezza was the brainchild of the idea, deciding to create the blog link up in order to encourage a plus size community in Australia.

Over the years the Australian Fashion Industry had been woefully lacking in beautiful plus size clothing. Given that the national average size for women in Australia is size 16, it has puzzled me why retailers were unwilling to design clothing for the majority of Australian women. However, there seems to be a shift n the last few years. Retailers are introducing plus size ranges (Target - Moda, Best & Less - Lily & Lou, Big W - Avella to name a few) and there are some brilliant specialist shops that are making leaps and bounds in Australian plus size fashion (Autograph, City Chic, Virtu, TS 14+, Belle Curve, 17 Sundays).

Aussie Curves has also generated many articles in the media, that is catching onto the plus size revolution that is happening here. It is wonderful to see that some bloggers are finally getting the attention they deserve.

So, without much further ado - here are my favourite looks from each week for the first 12 weeks! ( The next 12 weeks will follow in a fortnight).

1. Boots

Olivia from Wait until Sunset - I LOVED the purple, Suede boots. Finding wide calf boots, that are coloured as well? Be still my beating heart!

2. Nails

These nails from Fashion Hayley are just awesome. While they may not be a style I would usually choose myself, I think they suit Hayley's kawaii Japanese culture style perfectly. It served as a reminder that nails can be an accessory too!

3. Leggings

There were many different looks that I really loved from this week. I am a firm believer that leggings are NOT pants. However, my fellow AC ladies certainly showed that there are many ways a plus sized lady can make a pair of leggings look flattering an fabulous. I was introduced to the world of printed leggings. I loved how this outfit was bold, bright and showed how awesome leggings can actually look!

4. Red

I think the colour red is much loved among women. It adds that awesome pop of colour to the most boring of outfits, and can be worn by all types of women. My favourite post from this week was from the witty Cherie. Cherie shows how women of all ages can look classy, fashionable and colourful!

5. Celebrity Copycat

I just loved this week. I actually learnt that copying looks from celebrities can be really versatile. You can actually really learn a lot about what works, what doesn't, and about being bold. For me I think Falala Mele really nailed it. She looked at a celebrity whose style inspired her, and used aspects of a look to fashion her own. The result was great.

6. Sparkle

Sparkles. What is it about things that sparkle that make a woman's heart flutter? I think sparkly things for most women are like blue is to a bower bird!

I loved this look from the brilliant Melissa of Suger coat it. There is so much to love about the look. Pencil skirt. Peplum top. Sequin Blazer. All on trend items, that really shows plus size women CAN look glamorous and fashionable.

7.  Tribal

Tribal was a week hat I personally struggled with a bit. I just couldn't put together an outfit I really liked. Luckily other ladies were able to offer better inspiration, such as the aptly named Jeanie of Inspired Wish. The skirt had wonderful colours and patterns, and the necklace was perfect. It was a reminder of how wonderful more earthy tones can look. 

8. Stripes

Caitlyn from Closet Confessions looked so edgy and cool in this outfit. The biker jacket is just to die for, and paired with the floaty midi skirt softened to look. I really loved this week because all of the women proved that stripes CAN be worn by plus size women. In fact, it is highly recommended! Nothing is off limits really, you just need to find the right cut/pattern!

9. Picnic

I must say, picnic week was the week that Nerida and I are most proud of to date. We loved our outfits, and our photos turned out wonderfully. However. I also loved the look above from Lisa of Life as we know it. It was fresh and colorful. I loved the colours, the floral print, and the great necklace. I actually really love Lisa's style, as many of her looks are ones that I feel I would wear myself.

10. Blue

The colour blue! I think it is a colour that can be a little bit overlooked, although there was a recent resurgence of the magnificent royal blue colour recently. As usual there was more than one favourite look from this week. For Nerida and I, I wore my favourite cocktail dress that is an amazing royal blue, while Nerida shared a tutorial. However this look from Ashley Rose was just wonderful. Ashley always looks classy and elegant. This skirt was so refreshing and the sequined clutch was so cool.

11.Knits

When I think of knits I often think of cardigans and shrugs. These are generally a staple wardrobe item for the curvy lady, as they are used to cover up the arms a bit. Although I am not so sure why we find our arms so offensive? I must say, since taking part in the challenges I have actually ditched the cardi on most occasions. I am embracing my own shape and not adding n extra layer just so I don't 'offend' someone with my flabby arms. To hell with it I say!

Anyway, I loved this look  from Claire of Owls. Teapots. Shoes Oh My! because it was something different. A clingy knitted dress that look amazing.

12. Breaking the rules

This week was a revelation! Curvy women are bombarded with a long list of fashion do's and don't on top of the usual list that all women are told. This week saw many of us challenging ourselves, and societal rules at the same time!

You may not get how Omega from Fashion Adjacent is 'breaking the rules' in this picture. You really must head over to her amazing blog and see how this outfit is so different from what we usually see from the wonderful Omega. I just love her blog because she dances to her own beat, proudly.

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If you are a curvy lady in Australia/ New Zealand who wants to experiment more with fashion, or just be  part of a brilliant community then head over to Aussie Curves. This is a wonderful community of women who are really breaking down barriers that society has built around plus sized women.

Best of all, revel in the wonderful variety of outfits that are presented each week and become inspired.

I know I have, and it has been one of the most rewarding experiences I have had :)